"They have to bring me the bill, I have to pay for the banner. What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, lets see."

Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola joked he would reimburse fans after hearing they are set to display a new banner asking him to stay at the club.

The 1894 Group, who organise displays of flags and banners at Etihad Stadium, raised more than £1,000 in just 24 hours to create a banner.

It is due to be displayed in the South Stand on Saturday, when Fulham visit at 15:00 BST, and will read "Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay" in his native Catalan tongue.

"They have to bring me the bill, I have to pay for the banner," Guardiola said.

"What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, lets see."

Guardiola took the reins at Manchester City in July 2016 and his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, with no indication as to whether he will sign an extension.

The Spaniard has led City to 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a first Champions League title in 2022-23.

They are currently second in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Liverpool, after drawing the past two matches.

In July, Guardiola said he wanted to wait until the season was under way to "look at how everything is going and how connected we are" before making a decision on his future.

"When it's going to happen, it's going to happen," Guardiola said at a news conference on Friday.

Manchester City are currently fighting 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

That hearing, billed as sport's 'trial of the century', got under way on 16 September and is projected to run for 10 weeks, with a verdict expected in early 2025.

"I'm part of this club, deep inside of my bones, and the best way to defend the club is winning games and doing my job as best as possible," Guardiola said when asked if there is a need to defend and promote City.

"I am going to defend my club, I trust [them], since the owner, since the chairman for the relation, the CEO, and all the people working here, for many many years. I know them quite well, much more than any of you.

"The best way to defend is by doing our job the best, everyone working here has their own responsibility.

"I'm part of this club, not just the manager. I love this club and it will always be that way."

Original article published 04.10.2024 on the BBC Sport website.

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